Would you classify yourself as a dreamer? Or a realist? You can be both. But don’t cheat yourself out of dreaming.
I believe God has whispered a dream on every one of our hearts. And I believe that dream is closely connected to something we’ve always wanted to do. But so many of us are afraid to dream…or we don’t believe we have a right to.
The first step (in my “Ten-Step Process to Discovering Your Dream“) is: Admit You Have a Dream.
The second step is this: Give Yourself Permission to Dream.
As children, we knew how to dream. It came easily back then. I believe that’s because, as children, we could discern the voice of our Creator on our hearts telling us what His dream was for us. Those were the days we would dream big. The sky was the limit. And we believed we could do anything.
But sadly, as we grew older negative remarks, critical words, and sometimes even harsh criticism began to slowly — or abruptly –push our dream away. Today, as adults we no longer do what we want to do, but we tend to do what we have to do or what others expect us to do.
Yes, once we grow up, we find it more difficult to give ourselves permission to dream.
You can begin dreaming again — and rediscovering what God might have been whispering on your heart as a child — when you ponder these questions:
- What did you want to grow up to be when you were a child?
- What was it that you often talked about as a child?
- How did you enjoy spending your time as a child? (What did you make believe? What was your favorite game?)
If you’re not sure how to answer the questions above, ask a close friend or family member if they remember what you were interested in as a child.)
Next, write those answers down somewhere. And then prayerfully ask God what it is He wants you to know about the plans and purposes He has always had for you.
Now, to help you clarify a little more, take my free “Discovering Your Dream Self-Assessment” as a next step in developing your dream concept (or purpose statement).
Once you have your dream statement, please share it below. I’d love to help you through this process.
Hi Cindi,
I am definitely both a dreamer and realist. I miss the childhood time when I believed I could do anything. Over the years reality checks in. But, like you, I believe there’s a balance. I had a negative, critical and harsh childhood. As I vocalized dreams of what I wanted to be, they were painfully dismissed. I know there are lots of women out there that had similar experiences. What I want them to know (if they haven’t discovered it already) is that your God-given talents and gifts are just that…GOD GIVEN. Although my road was bumpy, I learned that no one can take them away, they are mine. I believe it pleases God to develop what He gave me and serve others with it! When I do that I feel His joy:-)
Thanks for your response, Chery. : )